As GMA Battles TODAY, Robin Roberts Medical Leave Begins Friday

By Alexis Tereszcuk - RadarOnline.com Entertainment Editor

Robin Roberts announced that she is starting her medical leave on Friday and begin her treatment for MDS and her bone marrow treatment.

Robin, 51, made the announcement on Good Morning America Monday and is she will check into the hospital next Tuesday.

Watch the video on RadarOnline.com

"I'll begin the process," she said. "It still takes about 10 days after being admitted because there are some things you have to go through before the (bone marrow) transplant actually occurs."

Her sister, Sally-Ann Roberts, is going to be her bone marrow donor, and Robin said she has been “getting shots” in preparation for the surgery.

Robin told a heartbreaking story about having to give her dog away while she goes through the medical procedures.

“KJ has been in my life almost 15 years. She's up in Maine now because when you have a bone marrow transplant you don't have an immune system for a while. And you're very susceptible to infection. And having a dog coming in and out...that was really hard."

Robin is expected to be away for months during her treatment, but said she will return to GMA.

“I know I’m going to have a job when I come back.”

Her leave comes at a critical time for the popular ABC morning program, which only recently has surpassed the once dominant TODAY show in the ratings.

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